WO2010079153A1

WO2010079153A1 - Method for operating a starter device and starter device for starting an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2010079153A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/050021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl-Otto Schmidt
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-01-07
Filing date: 2010-01-05
Publication date: 2010-07-15
Also published as: EP2386022A1; CN102272441A; DE102009000049A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a starter device (1) for an internal combustion engine (27) in a motor vehicle, wherein the starter device (1) comprises a starter motor (7) and a meshing device (8), which are separately controlled by a controller (6) to start the internal combustion engine (27), a starter pinion (24) that can be driven by the starter motor (7) is meshed into a gear ring (25) of the internal combustion engine (27) by the meshing device (8) and the internal combustion engine (27) is started by means of the starter device (1) if a defined release condition is present. In order to control the meshing device (8) and the starter motor (7) separately as simply as possible, the release condition is checked in two stages, wherein in a first stage the starter pinion (24) is meshed by means of the meshing device (8) for starting purposes and in a second stage the internal combustion engine (27) is started by a high current feed to the starter motor (7).

Description

description

title

Method for operating a starting device and starting device for starting an internal combustion engine

State of the art

The invention relates to a starting device for an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, wherein the starting device comprises a starter motor and a Einspurvor- direction, which are controlled separately by a controller for starting an internal combustion engine, a starter motor driven by the starter pinion in a ring gear of the internal combustion engine of the Einspurvorrichtung is eingespurt for starting and the internal combustion engine is started by means of the starting device, if a defined release condition exists. The invention further relates to a starting device for starting an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle with a

Control, wherein the starting device has a separately controllable starter motor via a starter switch and a separately controllable Einspurvorrichtung for meshing a driven by the starter motor starter pinion in a ring gear of the internal combustion engine.

It is known to start an internal combustion engine by means of a starter motor driven by a starter pinion that is meshed in the ring gear of an internal combustion engine.

To save fuel and emissions, it is known to switch off the internal combustion engine in a vehicle by an engine control, for example, at traffic lights or other traffic obstructions, which force a short-term stop after certain shutdown conditions, in particular after a certain time. It is known by the operation of a clutch pedal, which triggers a clutch switch, to detect a start request from the driver, which is connected to the engine. gate control is transmitted to initiate a starting process of the internal combustion engine.

DE 10 2005 004 326 A1 and DE 10 2005 021 227 A1 describe a starting device for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, with a controller for the separate control of a meshing device and a starter motor.

DE 197 02 932 A1 describes a circuit arrangement for a trained as engaging relay Einspurvorrichtung.

It is an object of the present invention, a method and a starting device of the type mentioned in such a way so that the Einspurvorrichtung and the starter motor separately as simple as possible, especially in start-stop operation, can be controlled.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention the object is achieved by the subject matter of claims 1 and 4. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

It is an underlying idea of the invention to substitute a complex, complicated, possibly equipped with computer programs control for separate control of a starter motor and the Einspurvorrichtung by a simple e- lektromechanische construction. This results in construction,

Manufacturing and development benefits that bring all the cost benefits.

The object is achieved in that the release condition is checked in two stages, wherein in a first stage, the starter pinion is tracked by the Einspurvorrichtung and in a second stage, the internal combustion engine is started by a high flow of the starter motor. The release condition is preferably designed defined so that it must be performed manually by a driver in a time sequence at a time interval to start the engine. The timing of the release condition has the advantage that the control of the Einspurvorrichtung and the starter motor is separated in time and thus unified is over. A Einspuren can take place slower in time. This results in a lower Einls rattle. In addition, this has the advantage that the starter pinion and the ring gear can achieve greater coverage when the starter motor is subjected to a maximum current. Conventionally, the distances between see the meshing and the application of the starter motor with a high

Starting current very short, if the mechanical Einspurvorgang takes a little longer, it can lead to increased wear on the starter pinion and the ring gear in an unfavorable tolerance position. Due to its mechanics, the release condition therefore has two steps, which can be achieved within a certain time interval, and which generate a time buffer between the two steps because of their electromechanical construction according to the invention. This time buffer is used for the separate control of the Einspurvorrichtung and the starter motor, whereby the starting process advantageously, as described above improved.

According to a method further developing the invention, a signal from a first position sensor for the first stage of the release condition is detected and a signal from a second position sensor is detected for the second stage of the release condition. The two-stage release condition is thus executed by activating a first position sensor in the first stage and activating a second position sensor in the second stage. According to the invention, position sensors are provided which lie in an actuation path from the driver in order to start the internal combustion engine. The driver must execute the actuation path to start the engine.

The method described above can basically always be carried out when the internal combustion engine is started, ie even during a so-called cold start when the vehicle is started by means of an ignition key or after verification of the driver authorization, for example by means of an ignition key by pressing a separate start button.

According to a method further developing the invention, the above-described two-stage enabling condition method is executed only in a start-stop operation of the internal combustion engine. This has the advantage that the cold start for a driver in a conventional manner is executable, as he is known to a driver. Only in start-stop operation, which is new to the driver when the internal combustion engine is switched off due to switch-off and the start button or the ignition key is not pressed, another way must be found to activate the internal combustion engine to detect the driving desire and implement. For this purpose, the inventive method is used with a device according to the invention described below.

The object of the invention is also achieved with a starting device in that the controller can be coupled with two position sensors which respectively supply signals in order to control the starting motor and the meshing device separately. Conventionally, in the start-stop operation, the control of the meshing device and the starter motor is controlled by a program executed by a microcomputer, or the starter control is coupled only to a sensor which detects a driver's request in start-stop operation. The starting process then proceeds according to the conventional starting procedure.

According to the invention, the controller is thus merely an amplifier or converter which converts or transforms signals from position sensors in such a way that the meshing device and the starter motor are activated. The position sensors are operated, for example, with a lower voltage and a small current, whereas, on the other hand, the Einspurvorrichtung and the starter motor with large currents and possibly also with greater voltages are driven as the position sensors. The control is thus very simple, since an additional electrical or electronic control, possibly with a microcomputer, can be omitted for the defined time control of Einspurvorrichtung and starter motor. It is understood that the starting device in conjunction with the position sensors can also be referred to as a starting system.

According to a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the position sensors are designed as mechanical switches. Mechanical switches have the advantage that they work safely and are inexpensive to produce. The mechanical switches may be, for example, buttons that are actuated due to a groove or nubs in a pedal travel, or they are potentiometers with a detection electronics or similar electrical or electronic switches. - -

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, in order to provide wear-free position sensors, at least one position sensor is designed as an optical sensor. Optical sensors also have the advantage that they produce no resistance in the actuation path.

According to an embodiment further developing the invention, the position sensors are arranged in the pedal travel from the clutch pedal, in particular the first position sensor is arranged in the first quarter of the pedal travel, and particularly preferably the second position sensor is arranged in the last third of the pedal travel of the clutch pedal. This results in a defined time difference between the signals from the first position sensor and the signals from the second position sensor. This embodiment is intended for vehicles with manual transmission.

In a vehicle having an automatic transmission in which there is no clutch pedal, it is preferable that alternatively the first position sensor for the first stage on the brake pedal and the second position sensor for the second stage on the accelerator pedal are arranged. Thus, for example, during start-stop operation by means of the first position sensor, a release of the brake is detected and subsequently it is detected that the accelerator pedal is actuated. Since these pedals are operated sequentially by the driver, the Einspurvorrichtung and the starter motor can be coupled directly to the control with the position sensors. The controller must have a safety circuit that prevents misoperation, so that the starter motor can not be operated without closing the Einspurvorrichtung. Therefore, preferably the Einspurvorrichtung is connected to a switch which closes the circuit for the starter motor only when the starter pinion is completely eingespurt.

According to the invention thus comprises the Einspurvorrichtung a switch for the starter motor in the circuit and the starter motor is energized by closing a second switch which is coupled to the second position sensor. Preferably, the second switch is a switching relay to large currents with small currents for the

To switch starter motor.

So that electrical energy is saved and the meshing device works as efficiently as possible and without thermal stress, preferably in the circuit of Einspurelais designed as Einspurelais a current limiting device for - -

Generation of a holding current switched. Thus, after the Einspurvorgang of the starter pinion, which requires a high Einspurstrom, the current for the Einspurvorrichtung can be reduced to a holding current.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the current limiting device and an electrical switch for switching the meshing device are designed as control electronics, in particular with a current sensor. A control electronics with an electronic switch, for example, a transistor thus controls the power requirements for a Einspurvorrichtung.

According to an embodiment further developing the invention, alternatively, the current-limiting device and the electrical switch for the single-track device are designed as control electronics with a time control. Thus, as an alternative to the previously described embodiment, no current sensor is required, but the current is reduced by a timing based on a predetermined timing characteristic diagram.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it:

1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device according to a second

embodiment,

3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device according to a third embodiment, 4 shows a circuit arrangement of a current limiting device,

Fig. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device according to a fourth

embodiment,

Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device according to a fifth

Embodiment and

Fig. 7 is a time-current-distance-voltage diagram of a Einspurvorgangs.

Embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a starting device 1 according to a first particular embodiment. The starting device 1 is controlled by a motor controller 2. The engine controller 2 is activated by an ignition switch 3. The ignition switch 3 can either be connected directly to a lock for an ignition key or simply be a start button that can be operated by the driver, for example, by a vehicle key in a lock after identification of the driving authorization. The ignition switch 3 releases electric power from a battery 4 from a vehicle. Thus, the engine controller 2 is supplied with electric power. The engine controller 2 has an interface 5 for detecting sensor signals from the vehicle or an internal combustion engine 27. Due to sensor signals, which are transmitted either via direct information lines or preferably via a bus system via the interface 5 to the engine controller 2, the engine controller 2 decides whether a shutdown condition for a start-stop operation of the internal combustion engine 27 is present and accordingly controls the internal combustion engine 27 at.

To start the internal combustion engine 27, the starting device 1 comprises a starter motor 7, which drives a starter pinion 24. The starting device 1 also comprises a meshing device 8, which latches the starter pinion 24 in a ring gear 25 of the internal combustion engine 27 for a starting process. The Einspurvorrichtung 8 further includes a contact bridge 87 as a switch, which is closed when the starter pinion 24 is meshed with the ring gear 25, so that the starter motor 7 can be acted upon by a maximum current when the starter pinion 24 is meshed. The contact bridge 87 is thus a safety switch to avoid malfunction. In order to be able to apply large currents to the in-line device 8, an electrical switch 9 designed as a switching relay can be activated on a control 6 for the star device 1. Thus, the electric switch 9 is driven with small currents and switches large currents for the electrical Einspurvorrichtung 8. The Einspurvorrichtung 8 includes, in the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two windings. A Einspurwicklung 81 and a low-resistance winding 82, so that the starter motor 7 is energized with a small current, and the starter pinion 24 is gently rotated in Einspurvorgang to avoid a tooth-on-tooth position in the Einspurvorgang.

The starter motor 7 is acted upon to start the internal combustion engine 27 by switching a designed as a switching relay electrical starter switch 10 with a maximum current and driven. The starter switch 10 is driven by the controller 6 with a smaller current. The controller 6 may be separately formed adjacent to and in information contact with the motor controller 2 or the controller 6 is, as shown in FIG. 1 is preferably shown, integrated in the motor controller 2, thus reducing the wiring and wiring and the Design control 6 cost.

According to the invention, the controller 6 can be coupled with two position sensors S1, S2. The position sensors S1, S2 may be electromechanical switches or optical sensors. The position sensors S1, S2 are preferably optical sensors, since they operate virtually wear-free and do not generate any additional resistance in a pedal path. The position sensors S1, S2 are arranged in the pedal travel of a clutch pedal 11. The clutch pedal 11 is provided in vehicles with manual transmission. The position sensor S1 is arranged in the first quarter of the pedal travel of the clutch pedal 1 1. And the position sensor S2 is preferably activated in the last third of the pedal travel from the clutch pedal 11. The two position sensors create a two-stage release condition for the internal combustion engine

27 to start. Detected in the first stage of the position sensor S1, a movement of the clutch pedal 11, this signal is forwarded to the controller 6, which energizes the electrical switch 9 and thus the Einspurvorrichtung 8 drives. The meshing device 8 spurts the starter pinion 24 into the ring gear 25 of the internal combustion engine 27. Inevitably in time thereafter, a signal from the position sensor S2 is triggered by progressive actuation of the clutch pedal 1 1, which is forwarded to the controller 6. The controller 6 controls the electrical switch 10 and thus energizes the starter motor 7, the contact bridge 87 on the meshing device 8 must be closed. This simple control has the advantage that the starter motor 2 is started delayed in time, in particular after a sufficient overlap of the starter pinion 24 and the ring gear 25 is present after a pre-picking. As a result, premature wear on the starter pinion 24 and sprocket 25 is avoided, which in case of premature starter motor

7 would occur. Overall, the start can be done faster because the starter pinion 24 is already eingespurt before the starter motor is fully energized. The meshing in the ring gear 25 can be done slowly and thereby generates a lower Einspausch noise. The control of the Einspurvorrichtung 8 and the starter motor 7 is realized by a simple design control.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the starting device 1 according to FIG. 1. The embodiment is provided for vehicles with an automatic transmission that have no clutch pedal. In these, a first position sensor S1 is arranged on the brake pedal 12. The position sensor S1 detects a release of the brake. This is interpreted as a start request by the driver in start-stop mode or during a cold start. A second position sensor S2 is arranged to detect the pedal travel from the accelerator pedal 13. The position sensor S2 detects an actuation of the accelerator pedal, so that the signal from the position sensor S2 is forwarded directly to a starter control, by means of the switch 10, the starter motor 2 for starting the internal combustion engine

27 charged with a strong current. The starter control thus includes the controller 6 and the switches 9 and 10.

FIG. 3 shows a further particular embodiment as a modification to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, in the current path of the Einspurvorrichtung 8 additionally a

Current limiting device 14 is provided. The current limiting device 14 reduces the current of the Einspurvorrichtung 8 after a Einspurvorgang to produce a small holding current, which is sufficient to keep the starter pinion 24 in the tracked state. The current limiting device 14 thus has the advantage that the power consumption is lowered and the Einspurvorrichtung 8 as Einspurrelais is less affected by the heating of the windings in their function. With frequent start-stops, the Einspurunktion could be affected if the Einspurwicklung 81 has too high a resistance and thus the required Magnetkraftflusswirkung would be impaired.

4 shows an enlarged schematic circuit arrangement of a current limiting device 14 as a basic circuit. The current limiting device 14 comprises a transistor 16, which blocks after a short time. A power resistor 15 determines the holding current. A capacitor 17 and a resistor 18 determine the turn-on time of the transistor 16.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment with respect to the current limiting device 14 and the electrical switch 9, which can be replaced by an electronic control system 19. The control electronics 19 comprises a current sensor 21, via which the on-track device 8 is reliably actuated and a holding current can also be generated.

FIG. 6 shows a modification to FIG. In this embodiment, the control electronics 19 is no longer current-controlled, but designed with a time control, so that the high feed stream is reduced in time to a holding current.

Fig. 7 shows a time-current-distance and voltage diagram for a Einspurvorgang. In principle, the starting process can be carried out both with a cold start, and preferably for a start in start-stop operation according to the inventive method with the starting device according to the invention.

At time t ₀ , the starter pinion 24 is spitted out and the starter motor 7 is stationary. Shortly thereafter, a signal is detected by the position sensor S1, which is transmitted from the clutch pedal 11 or the brake pedal 12 to the controller 6. The controller 6 energizes the single track device 8 with a current I and a voltage U ₈ . The diagram of FIG. 7 shows the voltage U ₈ according to a current supply

Fig. 1 and the diagram U _8-2 o shows an energization with a control electronics 19 and 20. Until time t ₂ , the starter pinion 24 is thus gently meshed. At time t ₂ , for example, it encounters a tooth-on-tooth position. Therefore, the starter motor 7 is supplied with a voltage U ₇ and a current I, so that the starter pinion 24 is gently rotated, the starter pinion 24 completes the path s and the contact bridge 87 closes. At the time t ₃ , the starter pinion 24 is meshed and the starter motor 7 is acted upon by a detected signal from the position sensor S2 with a current for starting the internal combustion engine 27. The controller 6 energizes the starter motor 7 initially for smooth starting with a reduced current from the time t ₄ for vigorous cranking of the engine

27 with a higher current I ₇ . At time t ₅ , the internal combustion engine 27 is started, so that the starter pinion 24 is spurted out and the starter motor 7 is no longer energized. At time t ₆ , the starter pinion 24 is disengaged after removal of the magnetic energy back from the sprocket and in rest position. All figures show only schematic not to scale representations. Moreover, reference is made in particular to the drawings for the invention as essential.

Claims

claims

1 . Method for operating a starting device (1) for an internal combustion engine (27) in a motor vehicle, wherein the starting device (1) comprises a starter motor (7) and a meshing device (8) which is controlled by a controller (6) for starting the internal combustion engine (27 ) are driven separately, one of the starter motor (7) drivable starter pinion (24) is meshed in a ring gear (25) of the internal combustion engine (27) of the Einspurvorrichtung (8) for starting and the internal combustion engine (27) by means of the starting device (1) started is, if a defined release condition is present, characterized in that the release condition is checked in two stages, wherein in a first stage, the starter pinion (24) is meshed by means of Einspurvorrichtung and in a second stage, the internal combustion engine (27) is started by high energization of the starter motor ,

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a signal from a first position sensor (S1) for the first stage of the release condition is detected and a signal from a second position sensor (S2) for the second stage of the release condition is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two-stage release condition only in a start-stop operation of the internal combustion engine

(27) is checked.

4. Starting device (1) for starting an internal combustion engine (27) in a motor vehicle with a controller, wherein the starting device (1) a separately controllable starter motor (7) via a starter switch (10) and a separately controllable

Einspurvorrichtung (8) for meshing a starter motor (7) driven starter pinion in a ring gear (25) of the internal combustion engine (27), characterized in that the controller (6) with two position sensors (S1, S2) can be coupled, the respective signals supply in order to control the starter motor (7) and the single track device (8) separately.

5. Starting device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the position sensors (S1, S2) are designed as mechanical and / or electromechanical switches.

6. Starting device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that at least one position sensor (S1, S2) is designed as an optical sensor.

7. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that at least one position sensor (S1, S2) in the pedal travel on the clutch pedal (1 1) is arranged for triggering, in particular the first position sensor (S1) in the first quarter of Pedal path of the clutch pedal (1 1) is arranged and particularly preferably the second position sensor (S2) in the last third of the pedal travel from the clutch pedal (1 1) is arranged.

8. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the first position sensor (S1) for the first stage in the pedal travel from the brake pedal (12) and the second position sensor (S2) for the second stage in the pedal travel from the gas pedal (13) is arranged.

9. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the Einspurvorrichtung (8) by means of an electrical switch (9) can be energized by a high current circuit and the electrical switch (9) from the first position sensor (S1) can be activated ,

10. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the Einspurvorrichtung (8) comprises a switch for the starter motor (7) in the circuit and the starter motor (7) by closing a switch (10) with the second position sensor (S2) is coupled, can be energized.

1 1. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that in the circuit of Einspurelais designed as Einspurelais Einspurvorrichtung (8) is connected a current limiting device (14) for generating a holding current.

12. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 1 1, marked thereby, that in the circuit of Einspurvorrichtung trained as Einspurelais (8) a current limiting device (14) is connected for generating a holding current.

13. Starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized marked, that the current limiting device (14) and the electrical switch (9) as control electronics (19), in particular with a current sensor (21) is formed.

14, starting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the electrical switch (9) and the current limiting device (14) as control electronics (20) is formed with a timing.